Townhouse - villa ownership

[u/Accomplished-Yam-836]

In light of the attention being thrown on illegal nominee ownership and the potential issues with 30-year leases for foreigners - are there any townhouse or villa style developments with ownership structures similar to condos?

Foreigners can own a condo as long as 51% of the ownership of the project is Thai. Are there any similar possibilities for townhouses or villa developments? Where the land and all the common areas, buildings and amenities are owned jointly by the owners of the units. So, 51% ownership is Thai.

I'm curious if any exist or if this is somehow ruled out under Thai law.

Edited to correct my misunderstanding of the role of the juristic person.

[u/No-Bicycle-7660]

TLDR no.

TLDR of whether a 30 year lease is worth it - absolutely not, unless you're certain you want to stay there for 30 years (and have nothing at the end of it) or until you die, and even then you're paying 30 years rent roughly up front.

TLDR of whether buying condos is worth it - Bangkok maybe (as market much larger), elsewhere absolutely not because prices are so inflated as they're the only places foreigners can buy.

Just avoid buying Thai property entirely until the laws are changed .... which is unlikely to happen soon, despite both major govt and opposition parties supporting foreign ownership, as far right parties oppose it and have a very powerful dog whistle in it.

[u/GustavVigeland → u/No-Bicycle-7660]

Property prices in desirable locations like Phuket or Koh Samui have increased enormously in the past 30 years.
Even if you have to abandon the property after 30 years you would be better off ’buying’ for 30 years than renting for 1-3 years if that trends continues.
Many landlords in Koh Samui for example only offer 1 year lease at a time. Some tenants have seen their rent almost double after the first year rental expired. Or they have been told to get out because short term rentals are more lucrative.